Gaillardia pulchella Foug.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 2550–2550 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bogotá DC.

Habit

Herb.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, artificial - terrestrial.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Protein Content

22.60% Entire seed/nut. Moisture content not stated (Jones & Earle, 1966)

Ghazanfar, S. A., Edmondson, J. R. & Hind, D. J. N. (Eds). (2019). Flora of Iraq, Volume 6: Compositae.Kew Publishing

Morphology General Habit

Annual, erect, simple or more usually branched, shortly bristly and variably long- multicellular-hairy, to 47(–60) cm tall, with ribbed stems

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, lower cauline ± petiolate, oblanceolate, 2–9 × 0.7–2 cm, lyrate-pinnatifid to ± toothed, teeth often rounded; upper cauline leaves oblong-lanceolate, sessile, ± clasping, often entire but sometimes toothed or lobed, usually smaller than lower leaves All leaves variably multicellular-hairy on both surfaces, but usually more sparsely so above

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula solitary, terminal on stem and branches, long-pedunculate, about 5 cm in diameter; peduncle slender, striate, up to 18 cm long, multicellular-hairy; phyllaries herbaceous, subequal, 12 ×2–2.5 mm, connate at base; outer series lanceolate, acuminate, densely multicellular-hairy; inner series broad at base, abruptly narrowed into a long, bristly acumen; receptacular setae subulate

Ray

Ray florets corollas crimson- purple, with or without yellow tips; ray 1.8–2 cm long, externally hairy

Disc

Disc florets c. 7 mm long, tube yellow and glabrous, lobes crimson-purple and externally long-hairy; style bifid, arms compressed, appendage tapering upwards, long-papillose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achene 2–3 × 1.5–2 mm, with erect, long, stiff hairs arising from base and ± concealing achene; pappus of 5–7 chartaceous, lanceolate scales, each 4–5 mm, tapering into an awn equalling half length of scale.

Ecology

Cultivated as an ornamental in Iraq; alt. up to 35 m;

Phenology

flowering & fruiting: Apr.-Aug.

Distribution

A native of N America, this species is cultivated in many other countries. Gaillaria aristata Pursh is also said by Husain & Kasim, l.c., to be “commonly cultivated” in Iraq (Lazar p. 430), but no specimens of this species have been seen from the Flora area.

Recognition

It differs from G. pulchella in being perennial and usually having entirely yellow rays, or occasionally rays purplish at the base; its receptacle-setae exceed the achenes, whereas in G. pulchella they subequal the achenes.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident